Brisco Pleads Guilty to Fake Bills & Fraud
South Florida rap artist Brisco pleaded guilty in federal court in Miami on Friday to charges of selling fake currency and committing identity theft and fraud.
Brisco, whose real name is British Mitchell, is likely facing 4 ½ to 5 years in federal prison when he is sentenced in May, his lawyer said.
Mitchell, 34, wore khaki jail scrubs and was handcuffed and shackled in court. In a somber voice, he replied “guilty” in response to each of the three charges. He admitted he was trying to sell more than $150,000 worth of counterfeit money, including several thousand dollars he sold to an undercover law enforcement officer.
Mitchell came under investigation after a “source of information” told law enforcement he was looking to buy smaller bills that could be used to counterfeit bigger ones, investigators said.
In one text Mitchell sent the undercover officer, he wrote: “If you wanna buy more, I can give you a crazy deal on it.”
Mitchell also admitted he was part of a fraud ring that operated in South Florida and that he was linked to an estimated $200,000 worth of fraud.
Mitchell, who was featured on Lil’ Wayne’s 2009 Grammy Award-winning album “Tha Carter III,” has been jailed without bond since he was arrested in December in Broward County.
Authorities said he had been on the lam since August when he led law enforcement on two chases in one day when they tried to arrest him.
Mitchell was eventually arrested, several months later, when he showed up for a guest performance at The Playhouse Gentlemen’s Club in Hallandale Beach.
Mitchell and three friends were accused of being part of an identity theft and credit card fraud ring that used deception to buy items at local home-improvement stores, investigators said. All four have pleaded guilty to related charges, court records show.
The purchased items, including stoves and refrigerators, were then sold to contractors at reduced prices, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Stewart. The ring operated in Broward and Miami-Dade counties between November 2015 and August 2016, she said.
Mitchell was recorded on audio and video committing some of the offenses, investigators said. They said he called some of the credit card companies to complain when fraudulent transactions were rejected and also called to check the balances on some cards. He was also caught on video tape at some of the home improvement stores.
U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom scheduled sentencing for May 11 in federal court in Miami.
SOURCE: SUN